Most US holidays are religious (holy-days) in nature or days set aside to remember the actions of one or more important people or groups of people. July 4th is a little different in that it is a day set aside to celebrate the birth of our nation. The birth of a nation (our nation ) sounds like a simple event but it isn't and it wasn't...that is what makes it so worthy of celebration. The United States was born of an idea, shared by many, that our creator has endowed all men (men being an all inclusive word not a gender specific word) with certain inalienable rights that no government could or should deny them. Among the rights specifically enumerated by our countries founders were the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. At the time the Untied States of America was formed the concept of "self government" or "of the people, by the people, for the people", was quite foreign. ...now of course the idea that any government anywhere in the world would infringe on a citizens individual freedoms or rights seems downright intolerable. While celebrating the birth of our nation we will of course remember those who gave so much to ensure our citizens enjoy the rights and freedoms we enjoy and it's hard not to honor those who have given everything so that citizens of countries around the world might enjoy the same rights and freedoms ...but the 4th of July is a day of celebration the freedoms we enjoy.
How do YOU celebrate the 4th of July?
Beyond spending the day Bar-b-queing poolside yy family doesn't have a fixed or traditional way of celebrating the 4th of July. We have gone camping in the past but the crowds have grown so much that is no longer fun. I don't like to fight the crowds for the sake of being close to the fireworks so we usually stay home and swim all day then watch what we can from our driveway. I enjoy the sound more than the lights and there is usually plenty of sound from my driveway. I'd like to say Hot dogs and apple pie were our goto foods but I usually try to smoke a pork butt or tri-tip. This year I have beef and pork ribs with corn on the menu. I also have a large bolognia (@Cvargo recommended this) ready to go in the smoker). We usually have some good country music blaring from the speakers in the backyard (and our neighbors on 2 sides will too) so the smell of smoke and music will fill the air long before the sparkle of fireworks. At home fireworks of any kind are outlawed in our city but our neighbors usually spend several days prior to and after the 4th launching full size fireworks into the air. We usually stick to the sparklers, which are also technically illegal EXCEPT the ones we get are sold for use at weddings soooo.
How do YOU celebrate the 4th of July?
Beyond spending the day Bar-b-queing poolside yy family doesn't have a fixed or traditional way of celebrating the 4th of July. We have gone camping in the past but the crowds have grown so much that is no longer fun. I don't like to fight the crowds for the sake of being close to the fireworks so we usually stay home and swim all day then watch what we can from our driveway. I enjoy the sound more than the lights and there is usually plenty of sound from my driveway. I'd like to say Hot dogs and apple pie were our goto foods but I usually try to smoke a pork butt or tri-tip. This year I have beef and pork ribs with corn on the menu. I also have a large bolognia (@Cvargo recommended this) ready to go in the smoker). We usually have some good country music blaring from the speakers in the backyard (and our neighbors on 2 sides will too) so the smell of smoke and music will fill the air long before the sparkle of fireworks. At home fireworks of any kind are outlawed in our city but our neighbors usually spend several days prior to and after the 4th launching full size fireworks into the air. We usually stick to the sparklers, which are also technically illegal EXCEPT the ones we get are sold for use at weddings soooo.
).
